Ireland border issue could sink Brexit deal

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said yesterday the thorny issue of the border between Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland could sink the negotiations on Britain's exit from the European Union.
19 October 2018

Pompeo suggests US may lift sanctions on Turkey

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday after talks in Ankara that Washington may now lift sanctions imposed on Turkey during the dispute over its detention of an American pastor.
18 October 2018

CO2 emissions to rise in 2018

Energy sector carbon emissions will rise in 2018 after hitting record levels the year before, dimming prospects for meeting Paris climate treaty goals, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Wednesday.
18 October 2018

Gunman was bullied

The teenager who killed at least 20 people and himself in a school massacre that has rocked Russian-annexed Crimea had spoken about taking revenge for bullying, his ex-girlfriend told Russian media yesterday as investigators rushed to establish the motives of the shooter.
18 October 2018

Brexit talks in deadlock

European leaders have dropped plans for a special November summit to complete a Brexit deal because of a lack of progress in negotiations, and have ramped up preparations for a chaotic split.
18 October 2018

Spain on top, US down, China up

Life expectancy in 2040 is set to rise at least a little in all nations but the rankings will change dramatically, with Spain taking the top spot while China and the United States trade places, researchers said yesterday.
17 October 2018

EU readies hardball summit for UK PM

European Union leaders were to give British Prime Minister Theresa May a tough reception in Brussels yesterday, warning her to rally support at home for the Brexit deal on offer or be cut loose without one in March.
17 October 2018

'Perfect storm' of hunger awaits

A potent combination of hunger, climate change and man-made conflicts are creating a "perfect storm", the head of the UN's food arm yesterday warned in a call to action on World Food Day.
16 October 2018

Russia says Idlib deal on despite setback

The Kremlin yesterday said a deal to create a buffer zone in Syria's Idlib was going ahead, despite jihadists missing a deadline to leave
16 October 2018

UK PM rallies ministers on eve of crucial Brexit summit

British Prime Minister Theresa May gathered her divided cabinet yesterday to seek their support for her approach to Brexit, the day before she addresses EU leaders at a crucial Brussels summit.
16 October 2018

Hungary homeless ban to be enforced

Rough sleeping in Hungary was banned yesterday after a homelessness law adopted by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government and called "cruel"
15 October 2018

EU adopts new chem weapons sanctions

The EU set up a new sanctions mechanism targeting those who use and develop chemical weapons yesterday, as part of a crackdown in the wake of
15 October 2018

Brexit talks at impasse

Frustrated European ministers yesterday insisted there was still time to reach a Brexit deal despite the latest failed round of divorce talks, but the EU warned it was stepping up preparations for failure.
15 October 2018

'Zombie' storm smashes into Portugal, Spain

Storms packing nearly 180 kilometres-per-hour winds hit Portugal early yesterday leaving hundreds of thousands of people without
14 October 2018

Slain Salvadoran, Pope Paul VI made saints

Slain Salvadoran archbishop Oscar Romero and Pope Paul VI, Catholic giants who sparked controversy during their lifetimes, joined the church's highest rank yesterday with an elevation to sainthood.
14 October 2018

Merkel's allies face threat of debacle

Voters in the southern German state of Bavaria went to the polls yesterday in an election where Chancellor Angela Merkel's arch-conservative CSU allies were bracing for heavy losses.
14 October 2018

UK PM May faces double trouble

British Prime Minister Theresa May faces a fight on two fronts this week, battling to convince her own ministers and then Brussels as the Brexit talks come to a crunch.
14 October 2018

Pope defrocks two ex-bishops of Chile

Pope Francis has defrocked two Chilean former bishops for allegedly sexually abusing minors, the Vatican said yesterday after a meeting between the pontiff and Chile's president.
13 October 2018

Ministers in revolt over May's Brexit concessions: reports

Prime Minister Theresa May's office yesterday insisted it would not "trap" Britain in an endless customs union with the EU after Brexit, amid reports some ministers could quit if this is the price of a divorce deal.
12 October 2018

Germany open to selling arms to Saudis

Germany's government has left the door open to exporting arms to Saudi Arabia and its allies in the Yemen conflict
11 October 2018